Thursday 30 April 2015

‘Scene’ in Nottingham today 30/04/15

‘South Notts’ (SN) buses were at one time a well known and important independent bus operator based in the village of Gotham with a range of routes that extended across South Nottinghamshire and into Leicestershire.

 

One of their main routes was and still is the No. 1 running from Nottingham via Gotham to Loughborough.

 

In 1991 ‘SN was purchased for £1 by Nottingham City Transport (NCT) who continue to operate the Gotham garage using buses wearing ‘NCT’ style livery but with a Navy Blue branding that maintains a link with the old ‘SN’ livery.

 

A batch of new Scania N230UD’s with Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 bodywork was delivered recently for use on route 1.

 

Registered YN15 EJA/C/D/E/F/J/K and numbered 641 to 647 in the fleet these buses carry the ‘South Notts’ fleetname in the traditional underlined style.

 

YN15 EJD


YN15 EJD

 

YN15 EJJ

YN15 EJJ

 

YN15 EJJ

 

YN15 EJJ

 

YN15 EJE

YN15 EJE

 
YN15 EJE
 
P1180891
 
The seats are as comfortable as they look.
 
P1180905
 
P1180906
 

Finally, a look at what the old ‘SN’ looked like. This East Lancs bodied Leyland Olympian seen at a rally (Sandtoft I think) was still in service with ‘McEwens Coaches’ of Mansfield as recently as 2011.

 

K481 GNN

 

K481 GNN

 

 

Tuesday 28 April 2015

‘Scene’ at The Imperial War Museum Duxford (TIWMD) Part 2

G-AKIF

 

It is perhaps hard to believe in these days of Jumbo Jets and the like that this fragile looking, fixed undercarriage, biplane 9 seater was ever an airliner, but it was.

 

The de Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide designed in 1930’s was widely used by civil airlines in the mid to late years of the decade.

 

At the start of World War Two (WW2) many were impressed into the Royal Air Force (RAF) as the DH Dominie and in addition a further 500 plus were built to serve in the transport, liason and training roles. The final tally was 731 aircraft built.

 

Many former military aircraft joined the civil register, G-AKIF being one of them. Built in 1944 with the military serial of NR750, apart from its British registration it also worked in Norway as LN-BEZ.

 

It currently works on air taxi and pleasure flight work.


Not bad for a 70 year old....!


G-AKIF

 

G-AKIF

G-ANTK

 

An Avro 685 York. Derived from the more famous Avro Lancaster of ‘Dambuster’s fame. It used the Lancaster’s wings, engines, undercarriage and tailplane married to a new virtually square cross sectioned fuselage to provide the ‘RAF’ with a passenger and freight transport.

 

After ‘WW2’ ended, many were sold onto the civilian market. G-ANTK having previously been registered with the military serial MW232.

 

Built at Yeadon (Leeds) by A.V. Roe in1945, it served with No.s 242 and 511squadrons. It flew with the latter on the Berlin Airlift.

 

It became  G-ANTK in 1954 when it was sold to ‘Dan-Air’ (DA) with whom it worked as a freighter for 10 years.

 

After retirement, it served at Lasham, Dan-Air’s engineering base in Hampshire as a bunkhouse for the local ‘Air Scouts’ group.

 

The ‘Dan-Air Preservation Group’ had intended preserving the aircraft itself but realised the size of the task and after some negotiation the aircraft was delivered to ‘The Duxford Aviation Society’ (TDAS) by road in May 1986.

 

20 years later saw it restored to the condition it is seen in today.

 

A fitting tribute to the people at the ‘TDAS’ without whom it would never have happened.


G-ANTK

 

G-ANTK

G-ALDG

 

After ‘WW2’ Avro moved on to develop and build the ‘Tudor’ whist one of Britain’s other heavy bomber builders, Handley Page.  Developed the Hermes.


Similar in concept to the Tudor, a four engined airliner, it was built primarily for ‘British Overseas Airways Corporation’ (BOAC).


Again, like the Tudor it was not a major success with only 29 built.


To be fair to the British manufacturers, they found it difficult to compete with the American aviation industry who could and did build aircraft like the Lockheed Constellation and the DC-4/6/7 series by the hundred.


G-ALDG

G-ALZO


An Airspeed Ambassador seen in the colours of Dan-Air.


The only survivor of the 23 built, all for British European Airways (BEA). Delivered in 1952, it served until 1958 when after 2 years in storage, it was sold to The Royal Jordanian Air Force as a VIP and general transport.


Bought by ‘DA’ in 1963. Its last commercial flight was on the 2nd. of October 1971.

 

Stored at Lasham, it was donated to’TDAS’ in 1986 who transported it by road to Duxford for restoration.


G-ALZO

 

G-ALWF

A Vickers Viscount V 701 Viscount. It is the oldest surviving Viscount in existence dating from 1952 and it is seen in the then livery of ‘BEA’.


The second production aircraft, constructors number 5 it was sold to ‘Channel Airways’ in March 1963 who leased it to ‘Tradair’ and then to ‘British Eagle’ before selling it in December 1965 to ‘Cambrian Airways’.


Its last service for them was on Christmas Eve 1971 when it flew a return schedule from Cardiff to Belfast. Its final flight was to Liverpool in April 1972 where it was to be preserved.


However, its future appeared to be in doubt and as they had done before,‘TDAS’ stepped in and after much work spent dismantling the aircraft it eventually arrived at Duxford in February 1976.


G-ALWF

 

G-APDB

A De Havilland Comet 4B seen in ‘BOAC’ livery.


The second of 19 built for the airline, at Hatfield it was delivered to them in September 1958. On the 4th. of October it operated the first Eastbound jet powered service ever from New York to London beating ‘Pan American’s Boeing 707 operated service by 22 days.

 

Sold in September 1965 to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines as 9M-AOB it eventually came back to ‘DA’ in 1969.

 

It flew on ‘DA’s inclusive tours holiday flights until November 1973 when its last flight was from Alicante to Tees-side airport.

 

It was decided to preserve the aircraft which had the highest number of hours (32,269) flown of any Comet.

 

Initially by the ‘East Anglian Aviation Society’ at Duxford, the aircraft passed to ‘TDAS” when that group was founded in 1975.


G-APDB

 

G-AOVT


A Bristol Britannia 312 wearing the livery of ‘Monarch Airlines’ (MA). Powered by Bristol’s Proteus engines it was nicknamed the ‘Whispering Giant’ because they were so quiet in operation

 

The model 312 was developed from the earlier model 102 which was shorter and only found one customer from new which was ‘BOAC’.

 

‘VT was the last of BOAC’s fleet of 312’s delivered to the airline in January 1959 and flew worldwide with the airline until September 1963 when it moved to ‘British Eagle International Airlines’ with whom it worked until the airline ceased operations in November 1968 at which time it was acquired by ‘MA’.


It ceased operating in passenger configuration with ‘MA’ in October 1974 when it was converted to a freighter for operation by ‘Invicta Airlines’. 

 

Stored from March 1975 it was donated to ‘TDAS’ and was flown to Duxford on the 29th. of July 1975.


G-AOVT

 

G-APWJ


A Handley Page HPR7 Dart Herald built at Radlett which first flew in May 1963. Originally ordered by ‘Transair’ but delivered to ‘British United (Channel Islands) Airways’.


In 1980 it moved to ‘Air Anglia’ and it was with this company that it flew its last service in July 1985. It was also the last scheduled service flight by any Herald, anywhere.


Retired, it was donated to ‘TDAS’ and arrived at Duxford on 7th. July 1985.


At the time of the photo, it stood engineless and tailless but with ‘TDAS’ record I have every faith that like so many more aircraft in their hands it will soon be restored to good health.


G-APWJ

 

G-ASGC


A Vickers (BAC) Super VC-10 series 1151 built for the ‘British Oversea Airways Corporation’ (BOAC). It first flew on New Years Day in 1965 and was officially delivered to ‘BOAC’ in March of the same year.


From 1962 to 1866 ‘BOAC’ entered an agreement with the ‘Cunard Steamship Company’ re services on the North Atlantic which saw ‘SGC’ carry ‘BOAC Cunard’ titling.


‘BOAC’ became part of ‘British Airways’ (BA) in 1972 and with the coming of the Boeing 747, the VC-10’s were moved to less important routes.


‘SGC ended its service days flying European services and made its last revenue earning flight from Amsterdam to London on the 22nd. of October 1979. It was stored from then until April 1980 when it was flown to Duxford for onward preservation by ‘TDAS’.


The ‘BA’ titling was removed in 1987/8 and the ‘BOAC-Cunard’ livery and titles were re applied.


G-ASGC

 

G-AVMU


A BAC One Eleven 510ED.


It was built for ‘British European Airways Corporation’ (BEAC) and delivered to the airline in March 1969. From then until withdrawal and storage at Hurn in October 1992 it flew on mainly UK internal services and to Ireland and Germany. For a time, the One Eleven fleet were based at Manchester.


It became part of ‘TDAS’ collection at that time and was flown to Duxford in March 1993.


G-AVMU



G-AVFB


A Hawker Siddeley Trident 2E displayed in the livery of ‘BEA’.


A longer range variant of the basic design, powered by Rolls-Royce Spey 511 engines. ‘BEA’ bought 15 of the model. Others were bought by ‘Cyprus Airways’ (CA) who took 2 and ‘CAAC’ from China took 33.

 

G-AVFB first flew in November 1967 and was delivered in June of the same year. Withdrawn in 1973 and leased to ’CA’ as 5B-DAC, it was damaged in the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974

 

Returned to the UK and ‘BEA’ service in 1977 it continued in service until 1982 when it was finally withdrawn and delivered to Duxford.


G-AVFB

 

G-AXDN


A BAC Concorde. Built as a pre production development aircraft it first flew in December 1971 from Filton (Bristol).


After a relatively short life it was withdrawn and delivered to Duxford in August 1977 having made 269 flights of which 168 were at supersonic speeds.


G-AXDN

 

 

It will be apparent that without the efforts of ‘The Duxford Aviation Society’, that a very large percentage of the civil airliners currently restored at Duxford would cease to exist.

 

They do a magnificent job but equally it must also be apparent that many of these aircraft are stored in the open.

 

Time and weather will eventually do serious damage. Also the members of ‘TDAS’ are all getting older.

 

We should as a nation be prepared to provide secure indoor accommodation for these aircraft for without it we will eventually lose a major part of Britain’s aviation heritage.


Saturday 25 April 2015

‘Scene’ at the PSV Circle gathering in the West Midlands April 2015 part 1

The PSV Circle Annual General meeting this year was held earlier this month at the Menzies Strathallan Hotel at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

 

In addition to the meeting itself, attending members from around the country were treated to a half and two full days of visits to bus operators and locations where buses might be seen in some numbers.

 

I was only able to attend on the Saturday and here are a selection of images from that day.

 

To transport the members then, what better than buses? The first two images are of the two hired in for the event.

 

SUI 6582

 

A DAF DB250 with Optare Spectra bodywork which comes from’ Thandi Coaches’ based in Smethwick


New as L123 ELJ, to ‘Wilts & Dorset’ and operated in the Bournemouth area.


SUI 6582


The second,


PO51 WNF


Is a Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork seen working for the ‘Green Bus’ company based in Hockley.


Previously working in the fleet of ‘Reading Transport’. 


PO51 WNF

 

 

The first visit was to the ‘Rotala’ group depot at Aston. Where


BJ15 TWK


A Wright Gemini bodied Volvo had just been delivered, indeed another of the same turned up whilst we were there.

 

Although not wearing any vinyl’s yet, it is seen in the livery of ‘Preston Bus’ which has been part of the ‘Rotala’ group since 2011.


BJ15 TWK

 

BN09 FWS


At the same location was this Mercedes-Benz Citaro wearing ‘Signature’ livery which I believe is used by ‘Rotala’ in Solihull.


BN09 FWS

 

SN04 EFP


Moving on to ‘Central Buses’ saw this Transbus Enviro 300 SLF liveried for the ‘Coleshill Connection’ service.

 

SN04 EFP

 

SDA 832S


The ‘Green Bus’ depot found this former ‘West Midlands Travel’ MCW Metrobus still wearing its former owners livery.


SDA 832S

There was also another E989 VUK in a version of the ‘Green Bus’ livery


E989 VUK

 

NK51 UCX


A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork which is another member of the ‘Green Bus’ fleet. Seen wearing this magnificent livery promoting the ‘King Edward VI School’ at Five Ways.


Originally working for ‘Go-North East’ with this registration, it then had a spell as R8 OXF on Park & Ride duties in Oxford working for fellow ‘Go- Ahead’ group member the ‘Oxford Bus Company’.


NK51 UCX

 

Moving on to ‘Thandi Coaches’

 

TH07 NDY

 

A Mercedes-Benz 0816 with Spanish built ‘Ferqui’ 32 seat bodywork which previously carried the registration YX07 AYF.


Ferqui used to have a tie up with Optare who marketed Ferqui production in the UK.


TH07 NDY

 

W466 EON


A Setra S315GT-HD in the livery of associated company ‘Evergreen’. Previously carrying the cherished registration B1 AVY.


W466 EON

 

R18 AVY


A Scania K124EB4 fitted with Irizar PB bodywork. It was previously registered YN55 PXM when it worked for ‘Veolia’ on ‘National Express’ work.


R18 AVY

 

RUI 2058


A Volvo Olympian with Alexander Royale bodywork that was P278 PSX in an earlier employment when it worked in Scotland for ‘Lothian Regional Transport’.

 

‘Thandi Coaches’ have taken over the name of the well known holiday tour company of ‘Bowens’ who went out of business a couple of yeas ago.

 

The livery it carries is a promoting the recently revived ‘Bowens’ operation.


RUI 2058


Further photos can be seen on my Flickr 


 

 

 



Thursday 23 April 2015

‘Scene’ on the seawall at Dawlish

It is now a little over a year since we were watching the television news footage following the collapse of the sea wall at Dawlish which resulted in the cutting of the only rail link to Torbay and beyond to Plymouth and Cornwall.

 

Round the clock working restored the link and Prime Minister David Cameron was on hand to witness the re opening on April 4th 2014.

 

Further relatively minor damage was reported in November 2014.

 

As I was in the area recently, I thought I would take a look.

 

The proximity of the sea to the railway line is obvious.

 

Apart from the railway, the sea wall carries a footpath that runs from Dawlish (behind the camera in the first image) to Dawlish Warren (in front of the camera in the first image round the first headland).

 

At the time of my visit, the footpath was only partially open and a diversion over the cliff tops was necessary.


P1180020

 

A working platform which resembles a small oil rig was stationed on the seaward side.


P1180013

 

and plant was being moved along the beach to a further worksite close to Langston Rock.


P1180006

 

150 247


Of 'First Great Western' (FGW) Is seen working the service from Paignton which runs through Exeter to terminate at Exmouth.


150247

 

143620


again from 'FGW' with the return working.


143620

 

An unknown 'Cross Country' 8 car Class 220 heading North.


P1180032

 

Dawlish station is the setting as a ‘FGW' HST whistles through on its way to Plymouth and beyond.


43097


43 097

 

43144


43144

 

Another Exmouth to Paignton service leaves after calling at Dawlish. 

 

Interesting that in a little over an hour three different types of unit have been seen on the service.

 

150124


150124

 

A Northbound ‘FGW’ HST heading for Exeter.

 

43 223

 

43223


43 078


43078


Finally, just up the line at Dawlish Warren is a collection of 7 former British Railways Mark 1 coach’s together with a former LMS vehicle.

 

These are Camping Coaches and are available to hire as holiday lets during the season.

 

Before the war and since there were many such coaches around the railway system. The only others that I know of are at Goathland on the 'North Yorkshire Moors Railway' and there are a couple of former 'Pullman's at Ravenglass on the 'Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway'.

 

I keep trying to persuade my wife that we should hire one for a week. Just walking and watching the trains go past.


So far, she remains unconvinced !!!


P1170983

 

Saturday 18 April 2015

‘Scene’ in Cardiff part 1

Another of those places like Chester, Bath and York that seem to be overflowing with buses.

 

I was last in the Welsh Capital 10 or more years ago when the livery was competent but restrained. Surprisingly, it is still around as displayed on. 

 

Y378 GAX

 

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Super Pointer 2 bodywork working for ‘Cardiff Bus/bws Caerdydd’ as are all the buses featured in this blog.

 

Y378 GAX

 

CA03 VRK


Another of the same in green and orange both colours being seen again in the first image. But what a difference the proportions and style of application makes.


CA03 VRK


CE02 UUM

 

Put a Transbus Mini Pointer Dart in the same livery in bright sunshine and the effect is dazzling.


CE02 UUM



The Mercedes-Benz Citaro with Cardiff having a small number of the over 40,000 so far produced by M-B.

 

CE63 NYZ

 

CE63 NYZ

 

 CE63 NZT

 

CE63 NZT

 

CN04 NRK


An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 300. 


I have made the comment before that I think the styling on this version of the E 300 is more attractive than the one that replaced it which is the current style.


CN04 NRK

 

CE63 NZM


An ‘ADL’ Enviro 200 which demonstrates a body similar to the current E300.


CE63 NZM

 

CN59 CLF & CN57 BHZ

 

Two Scania OmniCity CN270UN displaying different liveries ‘CLF in standard livery and ‘BHZ' in the green version.

 

CN59 CLF

 

CN57 BHY

 

CN06 GFK


The same type also appears in articulated form with a red front.


CN06 GFK

 

CE02 UVN


A further Transbus Super Pointer Dart.


CE02 UVN

 

CN57 BKA


A Scania N230UD with East Lancs Olympus bodywork. One of 13 that is the ‘Cardiff Bus’ double deck fleet.


CN57 BKA

 

Further photos can be seen on my Flickr